Unity Technologies, a video game software developer, revealed this week that it will form the technology backbone for Mercedes-Benz’s next-generation infotainment system. The latest headline on the company’s blog echoed what Mercedes-Benz Group AG Chief Design Officer Gorden Wagener said in 2019: “Screens are the new horsepower.” Considering that screen size in vehicles has grown tremendously in recent years, some even beyond most iPad sizes, he might be right.
For Mercedes-Benz, California-based Unity Technologies will support the automaker’s latest operating system, MB.OS, which will launch with 2024 models. The new operating system will connect the powertrain (along with today’s semi-autonomous driving) with the infotainment and bodywork and comfort systems in ways it hasn’t done before, turning its cars into even more computers on wheels. Ultimately, the aim is to better tailor the car to its capabilities and to the needs of the driver and passengers.
“With our proprietary operating system, we want to achieve three main things: design the user interface according to a luxury brand, create a two-way communication with the customer and integrate the customer’s digital lifestyle into the vehicle domain”, Magnus Östberg, chief software officer for Mercedes-Benz, told Automotive News.
Unity offers a development platform with a serious streetscape. Gamers recognize the name for the licensed game engine, and Unity claims that nearly half of the world’s games are built on Unity technology. In addition, it says that 72 percent of the top 1,000 games are made with its platform. With a heavy emphasis on 3D modelling, the tech company is working with the automaker on 3D navigation improvements and digital avatar assistants for the future. Unity says its development allows Mercedes-Benz to create “visually appealing” and “highly interactive” graphics that include all passengers in the cabin.
“Unity wants to be the 3D operating system of the world,” said Sylvio Drouin, VP of Unity Labs’ R&D team, according to TechCrunch. Drouin doesn’t speak theoretically: Unity runs on 30 platforms, including Windows, iOS, Android, Linux, Oculus Rift, Playstation 4, and Nintendo Switch. Unity, who goes head-to-head with Epic’s Unreal Engine (the mastermind behind Fortnite and numerous games for PS4 and Xbox One), is a legitimate powerhouse, and Mercedes-Benz expects to reap the benefits of Unity’s experience.
Mercedes-Benz says it will be all-electric by 2030, including its high-performance AMG subdivision and the ultra-luxury Maybach brand. The automaker started out with its EQS sedan in three flavors – EQS 450+, EQS 580 4Matic and AMG EQS – and it is growing as fast as possible given the constraints of supply chain challenges and chip shortages.
The Hyperscreen is the flagship of the EQS cab. Behind a single floating piece of glass, this eye feast includes a 12.3-inch digital meter cluster for the driver, a 17.7-inch OLED infotainment display in the center and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the front passenger. The OLED screen is particularly impressive, the pixels emit their own light source rather than other technology that requires backlighting. As a result, the video game graphics are crisp.
If the name Unity sounds familiar in the automotive world, it may be because BMW uses a Unity platform to pressure test cars with Level 3 automation. (On the Autonomy scale, Level 3 means the driver must be ready and able when the system warns the driver to regain control of the vehicle.) Currently, cars equipped with Level 3 Autonomy are not legal on American roads, so BMW harnesses Unity’s development expertise to simulate driving conditions in three dimensions.
It’s a smart move for Mercedes-Benz, which aims to expand its digital footprint and appeal to a younger audience. Experimental vehicles like the all-electric Vision EQXX concept vehicle have the potential to grab attention and show the German brand is making an effort to stay ahead. In fact, it was the Vision EQXX prototype that launched the Unity-Mercedes-Benz collaboration five years ago. The combination of powerful powertrains and high-tech usability gives the brand a chance to move forward in the next decade.
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